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The Eliot Church of Newton
474 Centre Street, Newton MA 02458
617-244-3639
www.eliotchurch.org
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here. |
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 Greetings!
The beauty of March is how it enlivens us to the possibility that the resurrection story is timely and real, and what great hopes we have that our souls will awaken, just like the earth awakens, to the goodness of the nurture of the sun/Son.
This is a poem by a woman named Ashley that I pass along to you:
Stay awake!
This might be the day you see the neon edge of a cloud at sunrise.
It might be the day the moon looks like a smile in the sky.
Stay awake!
You might sing out loud with Mavis Staples in your car today.
You might hear your lover's heartbeat.
You might find that perfect black pen costs less than $2.00.
Stay awake!
This may be the day you see the red flash of a cardinal.
You might hug someone.
You might take a hot shower today.
You might sign your name with particular flair today.
Stay awake!
You might laugh so hard your sides hurt today.
You might discover honey-crisp apples.
This might be the day a hairy dog jumps in your lap and licks your whole face.
You might touch a baby's soft, perfect ear today.
Stay awake!
You might smell onions cooking today.
You might eat soup.
Family Circus might actually be funny today.
You might fall in love today with all the people at Eliot-especially the little woman in pink double-knit pants who is marching purposefully through the misty rain to her car, wearing a plastic grocery bag over hair-do, the handles hanging down around her ears like giant, dangling, hoop earrings.
Stay awake!
You might live today!
Blessings on you wakefulness in this season of Lent.
Rev. Debbi
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Greetings from Pastor Karla
Although we are well into the season of Lent, if you haven't had the opportunity or time to ponder how to keep a holy Lent, here are some great ideas from Rev. Nadia Bolz Weber, a RevGal, and founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints, a Lutheran church in Denver, Colorado. Enjoy!
40 ideas for keeping a holy Lent
Day 1: Pray for your enemies
Day 2: Walk, carpool, bike or bus it.
Day 3: Don't turn on the car radio
Day 4: Give $20 to a non-profit of your choosing
(Sunday)
Day 5: Take 5 minutes of silence at noon
Day 6: Look out the window until you find something of beauty you had not noticed before
Day 7: Give 5 items of clothing to Goodwill
Day 8: No b--ching day.(her word, edited. use "complaining" if that works better for you.)
Day 9: Do someone else's chore
Day 10: Buy a few $5 fast food gift cards to give to homeless people you encounter
(Sunday)
Day 11: Call an old friend
Day 12: Pray the Paper (pray for people and situations in today's news)
Day 13: Read Psalm 139 http://bible.oremus.org
Day 14: Pay a few sincere compliments
Day 15: Bring your own mug
Day 16: Educate yourself about human trafficking www.praxus.org
(Sunday)
Day 17: Forgive someone
Day 18: Internet diet
Day 19: Change one light in your house to a compact florescent
Day 20: Check out morning and evening prayer at http://dailyoffice.wordpress.com
Day 21: Ask for help
Day 22: Tell someone what you are grateful for
(Sunday)
Day 23: Introduce yourself to a neighbor
Day 24: Read Psalm 121 http://bible.oremus.org
Day 25: Bake a cake (or chocolate chip cookies)
Day 26: No shopping day
Day 27: Light a virtual candle http://rejesus.co.uk/spirituality/post_prayer/
Day 28: Light an actual candle
(Sunday)
Day 29: Write a thank you note to your favorite teacher
Day 30: Invest in canvas shopping bags
Day 31: Use Freecycle www.freecycle.org
Day 32: Donate art supplies to your local elementary school, or to the Common Cathedral.
Day 33: Read John 8:1-11 http://bible.oremus.org
Day 34: Worship at a friend's mosque, synagogue or church and look for the beauty
(Sunday)
Day 35: Confess a secret
Day 36: No sugar day - where else is there sweetness in your life?
Day 37: Give $20 to a local non-profit
Day 38: Educate yourself about a saint www.catholic.org/saints
Day 39: Pray for peace
Day 40: Pray for your enemies (you probably have new ones by now) then decide which of these exercises you'll keep for good
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| The Worship Services of March
March 11 - Lent 3
Rev. Debbi Carter preaching
Hebrew Scripture: Psalm 19
The Gospel: John 2:13-22
Adult Forum following worship: Finance Commission
March 18 - Lent 4
Rev. Debbi Carter preaching
The Hebrew Scripture: Proverbs 3:27
The Epistle: I Corinthians 12:21-27
The 2nd Epistle: Galatians 6:10
Congregational Meeting following worship
7:30 PM: Kammerwerke concert
March 25 - Pledge Sunday
Rev. Debbi Carter preaching
The Hebrew Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34
The Gospel Lesson: John 12:20-33
Holy Week Schedule
April 1 - Palm/Passion Sunday 10:00 am Worship
April 5 - Maundy Thursday 7:30 pm Worship
April 6 - Good Friday 7:30 pm Worship
April 8 - Easter Sunday 10:00 am WorshipRev.
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Lenten Study Series
Wednesdays at 7:30 pm March 7, 14, 21 and 28
"EMBRACING THE WORLD WITH LOVE"
Please join us for the continuation of our Eliot Lenten Series, beginning in March and featuring members of the Eliot Church community as speakers/facilitators. The series is entitled "Embracing the World With Love". The series will be held on each Weds. evening in March, beginning at 7:30 PM and ending at 8:30 PM. Light snacks will be available.
* March 7: Vince Maraventano "What's New at Interfaith Power and Light" * March 14: Rev. Karla Miller "Just and Compassionate Eating" * March 21: Robert Young "Beautifying the Landscape and the World" * March 31: Rev. Debbi Carter "Greening in Historical Context" |
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Order Your Easter Flowers!
Easter gives us the opportunity to honor loved ones and celebrate this holy season by giving spring flowers to beautify the Sanctuary. This year, for ordering Easter flowers, we are trying something new. In the March Sunday bulletins will be an order form on an envelope. Specify your order and dedication and you can include your payment (made out to "The Eliot Church of Newton" with "Easter Flowers" in the memo) in the envelope and place it in the collection plate. Or, you may mail your payment directly to the church office.
PLEASE DO NOT HAND YOUR PAYMENT TO ANYONE IN PERSON! All plants are $10, the same price as last year. You can order red, yellow or purple tulips, blue or white hyacinth or white lilies.
The deadline to order your plants is Sunday, March 25
You may take your plants after the Easter service, or you may donate them to one of our not-so-out-and-about folks (we hope to have some left to deliver to them). Please contact Elizabeth Woodbridge 617-924-2048 or the church office if you have any questions. |
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Stewardship Campaign
You have recently received materials in the mail about this year's pledge drive for the funds needed to pay for the Eliot we all love. Please read them thoughtfully. Your contributions in the coming year will support the staff, the services, and the programs that will help us continue to make Eliot a welcoming, vibrant, spiritually rich community. Soon, you will receive another letter that will include a pledge card. Please consider how you can do your part and return your pledge card to Eliot on or before Sunday, March 25th. Thank you. |
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Capital Campaign Update
From Elizabeth Baker, Continuity Chair
Our Capital Campaign has officially ended, so I am writing to give an update. While some have chosen to stretch out their payments a little longer to honor their commitments in full, most of our contributions are in. As of January 11, 2012, Eliot had received approximately $852,400 in contributions, which represent about 99.7% of the more than $855,000 pledged. After some initial losses and expenses, the Campaign now has distributed nearly $835,000 in total, first according to the plan in the original vote for the Campaign and then according to the formula approved in 2008 by the Coordinating Council.
Thank you for your generous contributions! This is a wonderful and impressive result. Everyone should feel proud and grateful about how the congregation-all of us-came together in faith to accomplish this boon for Eliot. Our funds have been hard at work improving our building and supporting membership efforts and mission projects nearby and around the world. In our building, in addition to our elevator, we have a new heating system and storm windows, improved entrances and parking lot surface and signage, stunning front entry design and landscape, and a reserve to support a plan of maintenance over time. Campaign dollars have funded broad mailings for membership and contributed substantial donations to our chosen charities of Communities Without Borders, City Mission Society, Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light, and CAN-DO. Reserves remain in the mission coffers leaving room for continuing congregational input regarding their use.
Later in the year when all the payments have been received, we will have a celebratory moment. For now, however, on behalf of the Eliot community, thank you again for your faith and commitment to the church we love, your pledge, and your contributions to this inspiring effort that brought us together.
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Stone Soup - Sunday, April 1
We are reviving the celebrated Stone Soup this year on Aprils Fools Day! No, it is not a joke. Please mark your calenders and plan your (stone) ingredient donation to throw in the big pot(s). Diane Pullen will be there in the Eliot kitchen with her crew whipping up some fab soups to serve for lunch after church on April 1st. Look for the sign-up sheet in the corridor. This event will be a fund-raiser to assist the Eliot Youth on their Mission trip to Washington, DC this April spring vacation, where they work in food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens. Thank you in advance for your help. Anyone wishing to be a kitchen assistant with Diane should call or email her at dizee56@yahoo.com, 617-435-0712
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Choral Concert a Success!
What a thrill it was to see so many guests among some Eliot Church members at our February 26th concert - The Choral Singer's Art. Apparently our mission of musical "outreach" indeed did just that and brought non-Eliot Church guests into our midst. If you weren't among the audience, you missed a terrific performance by The Eliot Church Singers. I congratulate them!!
My sincerest thanks to the patrons of The Eliot Church Music Series for their generous financial support. ARCHANGEL: Elizabeth Baker & Robert Abbe, John & Ann Ellen Rutherford,
Jan Paul & Lisa von Wendt; CHERUBIM: Blair & Carol Brown, Michael Benn, Dean Anderson & Jean Scarrow, Phil & Ann Sharp, Joseph & Alice Holt; SERAPHIM: Andy & Terry Hackford,
Nancy Jones, Nancy R. Lob. A special thanks to the von Wendts for their legion publicity and hospitality efforts and for the support of the Eliot Church Music Commission.
Charles Raines,
Minister of Music
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Eliot Church Music Series - Sunday, March 18
Eliot Church Music Series continues Sunday, 18th March at 7:30 p.m. - The third concert of our Eliot Church Music Series will feature the Kammerwerke chamber ensemble in Where Have I Heard This Before? Director Alan Pearlmutter leads the musicians in a selection of arrangements including Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So, " Summertime" and "My Man's Gone." Tickets will be available at the door: General admission, $15 & seniors/students, $10. The concert will be followed by a tasty dessert reception in the Chapel.
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Progressive Dinner
Saturday, March 24
Come one, come all! You are invited to attend Eliot Church's Progressive Dinner on Saturday, March 24th, sponsored by the Membership Commission. This is a fun way to gather with Eliot friends, make new connections and build our church family. This is an adult-only dinner, but you are welcome to bring friends! Please consider inviting friends you want to introduce to the Eliot community! Our evening will begin at: 6:00 pm with appetizers at the home of Bonnie Bermas and Mark Link. 7:15 pm Small dinner groups at various homes 9:00 pm Dessert (location tba) Suggested donation is $10/person, and attendees will be asked to contribute an appetizer, dessert, or wine for the occasion. Please sign up during coffee hour, or email Alice Holt at aliceholt76@gmail.comWe hope you can make it! Questions can be directed to Mark Link, Amy McMahon or Alice Holt.
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Sunday School Assistant Teachers Needed
for April and May
For the Spring Term, due to lack of volunteers, the CE Commission has decided to combine grades 2-7 into a multi-age classroom. Using our Spark curriculum as a guide, we are creating lessons that are age-appropriate and hands on. Although we have lead teachers for each Sunday, we still have a need for adults to assist the lead teachers in implementing the lessons and activities. This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know our children in meaningful and fun setting. Please consider volunteering for at least one Sunday this spring.
Contact Laura Seoane or Karla Miller to volunteer, or sign up in the hallway outside of Karla's office.
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| Church Family News
We're updating our database and need your help!
We'd like to be able to include you and your family in our list of monthly birthdays and Anniversaries. Please email Terri WJ with your family's info (if you don't want us to know your age, no prob. Just give us a date and month!)
March Birthdays
1 Sandy MacDonald
1 Elliott von Wendt
2 Anya Bassett
2 Barbara Couturier
2 Erika Pond
4 Jay Jasset
5 Jim Stoner
5 John Clark
5 Terry Hackford
6 Madeline Smith
8 Nancy Lob
10 Patrick O'Reilly
14 John Maraventano
16 Catherine Miller
18 Carol Brown
20 Sophie Boudette
21 Michael Apstein
21 Lulu Hunt
24 Ron Perrone
25 Paula Becker
25 Larry Schafer
27 Ethan Becker
27 Jim Byrne
27 Michael Stiriti
28 Colin Benn
28 Fred Balfour
28 Sue Finegan
28 Logan McCarty
29 Gage Hackford
31 Isabella Owens
March Anniversaries
March 21 Cammie Haase Pettingell & Warren Pettingell
March 21 Leslie Creedy & Bill Powers
March 25 Connie Stubbs & Chris Dame
Congratulations
To Valerie and Burton Merceron on the Baptism of their daughter, Beverly Bella on Sunday, February 26! Beverly's Godparents are Jasmin McNeil and big brother Buthavas.
Slide Show set to Music
Patrick O'Reilly has uploaded a slide show of his travels and set it to an original piano pice by Siu Wai Stroshane, Prelude. The photos were taken in places ranging from the Cape to Sanibel to Hawaii to NW Canada to Oregon. view the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEnwvUqf3eE&feature=plcp&context=C3e5b1d3UDOEgsToPDskKU_uFugJQgLkCoH7DWuFpD
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Women's Retreat 2012
Friday, March 9 - Saturday, March 10
We carefully took your concerns into consideration and have changed the date of our Eliot Women's Retreat for 2012. Instead of the first weekend in February, the date for the 2012 retreat will be: March 9 and 10, 2012.
This is weeks later than the February date we have used for many years. It is our hope that the later date will mean safer conditions in the Walker Center parking lot and sidewalks. Nothing can be guaranteed where the weather is concerned but feelings were strong among this year's group that we can't risk any more accidents.
We share this information with you now in the hope that advance knowledge will help you all keep the date clear!
All the best,
The retreat organizers: Terry Hackford, Nancy Dick-Atkinson, Brenda Mason
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